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February 11, 08. Hon. James R. Garfield, Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I note in this morning's
San Francisco Chronicle the following statement alleged to have been made to you by C H. Bentley, Esq., of San Francisco:-
Bentley told him that while John Muir and certain members of the Sierra Club had memorialized the department against permitting
the use of Hetch Hetchy as a reservoir site, they did not represent the prevailing sentiment of the club. Ofcourse, I realise
that newspapers do not always correctly report facts, but if he used the language attributed to him he has stated that whioh
is false. Mr. Bentley is not a member of the Sierra Club and is not in a position to know whether the statement attributed
to him is true or untrue. As Secretary of the club I have positive Knowledge of the attittud of the club on this question.I
know that our membership of 1,000 is almost unanimously opposed to the utilization of Hetch Hetchy as a reservoir.I know that
of the nine who compose our Board of Directors allbut one are opposed to the Hetch Hetchy project. I cannot conceive how
Mr. Bentley can hope to accomplish the object he wishes to attain by misrepresentation. If 04062